Seasonal Release: Introducing Sassamanash!

Just in time for the holiday’s, Sassamansh is here with delicious blend of farm-crafted cider, cranberry and hibiscus flower!

Cranberries, or sassamanash as the Algonquians called them, are a welcome sign of autumn. Several varieties – both indigenous and introduced – are found on Vancouver Island. When these crimson delights are blended with fermented apples the resulting cider is a tasty balance of bright acidity and autumn sweetness. As a cider in our Canadian Invasion Series, proceeds help combat invasive plants. Raise a glass to the harvest season!

The Story Behind Sassamanash:
Sassamanash continues with the Canadian Invasion Series theme of building awareness around invasive plants which are a threat to farms and natural areas alike. While both introduced and native varietals of Cranberries exist in the Pacific Northwest, Sassamanash helps eradicate invasive species by supporting The Nature Conservancy of Canada with a portion of proceeds from sales.

Sassamanash combines the best British Columbia grown apples with the finest locally grown cranberries and hibiscus flowers! First we mill and juice our apples and add champagne yeast to begin fermentation. Fermentation happens in stainless steel tanks at cool temperatures to maximize the aromatics of the cider base. Meanwhile, we soak BC grown cranberries and hibiscus flower in eau de vie from our neighbours at Victoria Distillers. After the cranberries and hibiscus have steeped for a month or two, we separate the fruit and eau de vie and press our soaked cranberries in our basket press. By combining the pressed cranberry juice and hibiscus infused eau de vie, we have now created a beautiful crimson eau de vie. This infused eau de vie is then blended with the cider base before bottling. The result is a beautiful light rose coloured cider with bright, balanced acidity that is drenched in autumn sweetness.

Suggested Food Pairings:
Sassamanash was created to accompany your Holiday gatherings. Try it with Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas dinner, and everything in between! Turkey or ham (or nut loaf as a vegetarian option) with mashed root veggies, grilled kale, and other seasonal goodness pairs perfectly with this holiday sipper. Sassamanash also pairs well with fresh fruits, salty snacks, and light desserts. Or, combine with club soda for a festive holiday spritzer!

Tasting Notes:
Appearance: Sparkling, blush
Aromas/Flavours: Fruity, mouth-watering cranberry – slightly sharp with a hint of floral and green apple notes
Acid/Sweetness: Bright balenced acidity with residual sweetness Mouth feel: Sharp yet smooth with minimal tannins, long and viscous finish.

Available at select premium liquor stores December 5th!

Find a retailer near you.